Alan Murchison's 10 in 8 Group to open sixth restaurant at Macdonald Bear Hotel

10 in 8 will convert the 85-cover venue into an intimate, fine-dining restaurant within the next six months

The 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group, founded by Michelin-starred chef Alan Murchison and headed by Nina Basset, is teaming up with Macdonald Hotels & Resorts to open its sixth restaurant at the four-star Macdonald Bear Hotel in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

The restaurant group, which aims to operate 10 Michelin-starred restaurants by 2018,​will take on the management and operation of the 85-cover restaurant and bar at the 13th​ Century coaching inn, which is located next to Blenheim Palace. It is the second partnership between 10 in 8 and a hotel group this month.

“We are delighted to be entering in to this exciting new venture with Macdonald Hotels & Resorts,” said Basset, the 10 in 8 Group’s new managing director. “Coming so soon after the announcement of our merger with Hotel TerraVina, these are very exciting times for the 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group.

The Hotel TerraVina partnership​ involved both companies buying shares in each other, with a sharing of expertise across both businesses. It sparked Basset’s appointment at 10 in 8.

She added: “We will be creating an inspiring new dining concept at Macdonald Bear Hotel. We have plans to refurbish the restaurant and bar, sympathetically and in keeping with the original, historic building and our aim is to generate a truly memorable experience for guests.”

The details...​

A spokesperson for 10 in 8 told BigHospitality: "The deal was signed last week and we will take 3-6 months to review what is currently in place and get a feel for Woodstock. We aim to open an intimate fine-dining restaurant within the next six months in addition to the main restaurant which will continue operating. We will also be planning a refurbishment prior to the opening.

"We have appointed Gareth McAinsh Front of House Manager with responsibilities of F&B. We are talking with and interviewing head chef candidates at the present time.

Alan Swinson, catering director of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, added: “This is an exciting development for Macdonald Hotels and we are delighted to have gone into partnership with a group whose food ethos mirrors our own in using fresh ingredients with a commitment to serving top-quality food in terms of sustainability, provenance, seasonality and flavour.”

The chef, who this month won the Scottish heat of the BBC’s Great British Menu, also revealed to us his wider thoughts on life, his career and the UK hospitality in this Pearls of Wisdom interview.​

The 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group’s collection now includes the Michelin-starred restaurants and award-winning restaurants La Bécasse​ (Ludlow), L’ortolan (Berkshire), Paris House​ (Woburn) and The Angel​ in Dartmouth (formerly Restaurant Angélique) as well as the boutique Hotel TerraVina, The Fine Dining Academy Cookery School (Berkshire) and the wine, spirits and fine foods club Les Caveaux.